TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 251

GRS 1700

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESK BY 25090OZ FCO

TELNO 2488

OF 250645Z JUNE 87

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

Secret

MY SECOND IPT: STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT : LONGER-TERM ISSUES

FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF NOTE 1.

BEGINS

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

TOP COPY Q DIST 7

METHOD OF SELECTION

SECTION 1 OF ANNEX 1 TO THE JOINT DECLARATION STATES:

''THE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHALL BE SELECT BY ELECTION OR THROUGH CONSULTATIONS HELD LOCALLY AND

35 APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT''.

2. PAPER OF MAY 1986 REFERRED TO THREE POSSIBLE METHODS OF SELECTING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHICH HAD BEEN PUBLICLY DISCUSSED IN HONG KONG. THERE WERE:

(A) BY CONTESTED DIRECT ELECTION AMONG ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES ON THE BASIS OF UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE:

(B) BY ELECTION AMONG MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, IF NECESSARY AFTER CONSULTATION AMONG THEM, ON A SHORT LIST OF ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES FROM WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATURE:

(C) BY CONSULTATION, FOLLOWED IF NECESSARY BY ELECTION, IN SOME WIDER ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO PROVIDE A BROADER BASIS FOR THE ELECTION.

3. OPTION (A) WOULD REQUIRE CANDIDATES FOR THE POST OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO CAMPAIGN WIDELY FOR POPULAR SUPPORT AND WOULD THUS FAVOUR THE HIGH-PROFILE POLITICIAN RATHER THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, A LESS

OPTION (B) WOULD WELL-KNOWN BUT NEVERTHELESS ABLE ADMINISTRATOR.

ROTH

PLACE CONSIDERABLE POWER IN THE HANDS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND MIGHT

OPTION (C) UNDULY TIP THE BALANCE BETWEEN IT AND THE EXECUTIVE. MIGHT THEREFORE BE PREFERABLE, BECAUSE IT WOULD ENSURE THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WAS SELECTED AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE

AND THAT HE ENJOYED A BROAD MEASURE

MERITS OF DIFFERENT CANDIDATES, OF SUPPORT.

METHOD OF ELECTION

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14.